Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling — the high-altitude zoo
What it is
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, the Darjeeling Zoo, is a zoo of about 27.3 hectares on Birch Hill in Darjeeling. Wikipedia says it opened on 14 August 1958 and describes it as India's biggest zoo at altitude, specialising in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions.
Photos: Slyronit (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Slyronit (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
What it does
Wikipedia describes successful captive breeding work with the snow leopard, begun in 1983, the Himalayan wolf, which is endangered, and the red panda, begun in 1994, and says the zoo is the central hub of the Central Zoo Authority's red panda programme. Its animals include snow leopards, red pandas, gorals, Siberian tigers and several rare birds. It is named after Padmaja Naidu, a governor of West Bengal, and was renamed in 1975.
Visiting
The paths climb the hillside, so allow time and wear good shoes. The zoo draws about 300,000 visitors a year by Wikipedia's count. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is next to it. We have no verified opening hours, entry fee or feeding times.
Getting there
Our measured road time to the zoo is in the quick facts; it is a little north-west of the town centre.
Combine it with
The half-day plan links the zoo, the mountaineering institute and the botanical garden, and the two-day plan puts the zoo on the first afternoon. Read things to do in Darjeeling.
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Questions people ask
What is the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park?
The Darjeeling Zoo, opened on 14 August 1958 at about 2,134 m, which Wikipedia describes as India's biggest zoo at altitude. It covers about 27.3 hectares and specialises in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions. It is named after Padmaja Naidu, who served as governor of West Bengal, and was renamed in 1975.
Which animals are at Darjeeling Zoo?
Wikipedia lists snow leopards, red pandas, gorals, Siberian tigers and rare birds, with breeding programmes for the snow leopard, started in 1983, the Himalayan wolf, and the red panda, started in 1994. The zoo is the central hub of India's red panda programme. We have no verified feeding or show times.
How long does the zoo take?
Allow about two hours on its uphill paths, which is how we plan it; Wikipedia says it attracts about 300,000 visitors a year. It lies on Birch Hill next to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, so the two combine in a half day. We have no verified opening hours or entry fee, so ask locally before you go.